After training at St Thomas' Hospital in London and completing an Oncology Course at the Royal Marsden Hospital, Helen joined University Hospitals Bristol in 1987. During this time she worked as an Oncology Ward Sister and Palliative Care Nurse Specialist, before moving into clinical management roles as a Matron and Head of Nursing. In 2003 she completed a Masters degree at Reading University in Death and Society.
In 2012 Helen was appointed as the Deputy Chief Nurse, where her portfolio of work included operational, strategic and professional leadership for dementia care, reducing falls, end of life care, pre and post registration nurse education, the introduction of a new electronic rostering and acuity and dependency system, and adult and children's safeguarding.
Helen retired from her role in January 2021 and is currently working on a project in the Children's Hospital. Specific areas of interest for Helen are dementia, palliative and end of life care.